The $190 million represents a 59 percent increase in aid compared to FY 2005, and a 235 percent increase from five years ago. This increase meant Direct Relief had the resources to help 338 partner organizations around the world to provide 23.9 million courses of treatment. Direct Relief furnished this support with the same efficiency that has led both Forbes and Consumers Digest to name it one of the United States' most efficient charities, using less than one percent of all public support for administrative costs and expenses. Thomas Tighe, the head of Direct Relief International, was formerly the Chief of Staff of the Peace Corps and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand.

Direct Relief International furnished a record $190 million (wholesale value) worth of medical material aid in their Fiscal Year 2006 and is in excellent fiscal shape, according to the organization's annual report released this week, and is now California's largest private non-academic charity.

The $190 million represents a 59 percent increase in aid compared to FY 2005, and a 235 percent increase from five years ago. This increase meant Direct Relief had the resources to help 338 partner organizations around the world to provide 23.9 million courses of treatment.

Direct Relief furnished this support with the same efficiency that has led both Forbes and Consumers Digest to name it one of the United States' most efficient charities, using less than one percent of all public support for administrative costs and expenses.

"The year stretched our organization to respond to both the chronic health emergencies around the world and those caused by natural disasters. In the midst of these events, Direct Relief was fortunate to be able to expand significantly our assistance to help more people than at any time before in our 58-year history," said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief President and CEO.

The annual report, available at www.directrelief.org, details the organizations finances for the period from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006 and describes the work being done with Direct Relief-supplied aid in the ongoing program areas of primary health care, maternal and child health, and HIV/AIDS. Anecdotes and pictures throughout the report bring to life the success stories of Direct Relief partners from urban Los Angeles to rural Uganda in providing necessary care.

The report also contains special sections on emergency disaster aid provided for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Pakistan/Kashmir earthquake, and the Asian tsunami, with breakdowns of the material aid and cash grants distributed.

Geographically, African partners received the plurality of Direct Relief's aid with $33.3 million. Domestic partners were next with $32.3 million, that number heavily buoyed by Direct Relief's support efforts for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Partners in Mexico and Central America, along with the Caribbean, also received more than $30 million in specifically-requested aid to their respective regions.

Donor generosity in FY 2006 allowed for the significant expansion of financial assistance to strengthen local health efforts in areas affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and Rita, and the earthquake in Pakistan. Using funds designated by donors for those specific tragedies, Direct Relief was able to disburse $10.2 million in cash grants to rebuild health facilities, initiate mobile medical services, and kick-start health services at the local level in several dozen communities.

Direct Relief is committed to transparency in its operations, and, along with the annual report which has been published yearly since 2000, also holds an annual shareholders meeting in Santa Barbara.

About Direct Relief International Founded in 1948, Direct Relief International is a Santa Barbara, CA-based non-profit organization focused on improving the quality of life by bringing critically needed medicines and supplies to local healthcare providers throughout the world. Direct Relief distributed over $200 million in direct aid through medical material assistance and targeted cash grants to more than 300 healthcare facilities and organizations in 56 countries serving 23.9 million people. Forbes recognized Direct Relief for the fourth consecutive year as one of only eight non-profit organizations in the United States that is 100 percent efficient in fundraising.

When this story was posted in October 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace CorpsSenator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments.

He served with honorOne year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

Chris Shays Shifts to Favor an Iraq TimetableIn a policy shift, RPCV Congressman Chris Shays, long a staunch advocate of the Bush administration's position in Iraq, is now proposing a timetable for a withdrawal of American troops. How Mr. Shays came to this change of heart is, he says, a matter of a newfound substantive belief that Iraqis need to be prodded into taking greater control of their own destiny under the country’s newly formed government. As Chairman of the House Government Reform subcommittee on national security, he plans to draft a timetable for a phased withdrawal and then push for its adoption. A conscientious objector during the Vietnam War who said that if drafted he would not serve, Chris Shays has made 14 trips to Iraq and was the first Congressman to enter the country after the war - against the wishes of the Department of Defense.

Peace Corps' Screening and Medical ClearanceThe purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

The Peace Corps is "fashionable" againThe LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

PCOL readership increases 100%Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

History of the Peace CorpsPCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

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Story Source: AlertNet

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Thailand; NGOs; Staff; Chief of Staff

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